Faculty

Meet the Director

Tracy Tiemeier, Ph.D.

University Hall 3728
310.568.6234
tracy.tiemeier@lmu.edu

Tracy Sayuki Tiemeier is Associate Professor of Theological Studies and Director of Peace and Justice Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in Asian/Asian American theology, comparative theology, feminist theology, Hindu-Christian studies, and interreligious dialogue.

A mixed Japanese-German American Catholic background full of saints and ancestors, a Midwest upbringing, and an abiding love of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and dystopian worlds make her particularly interested to integrate critical theory, feminist theory, multiracial theory, and popular culture studies into her Catholic theological work.

Affiliated Faculty

Jennifer Ramos, Ph.D.

Associate Professor in the Political Science and International Relations Department

310.338.1741
jennifer.ramos@lmu.edu

Jennifer M. Ramos is Associate Professor in the Political Science and International Relations Department at Loyola Marymount University. Her research focuses on understanding the causes and consequences of political change, with an emphasis on the role of ideas, norms, and identity. Her current research interests include peacebuilding in divided societies, the globalization of the far right, and the preventive use of force. She has published several books, and a number of scholarly articles in journals such as Journal of Politics, Public Opinion Quarterly, Journal of Political Ideologies, Human Rights Review, and International Studies Perspectives. With a passion for international relations, she has lived, worked, researched and studied in a number of countries, including The Netherlands, Austria, France, Germany, Croatia, Bosnia, and Mexico. Her experiential learning courses include immersion trips to the United Nations in New York to study human rights, and to Belfast, Northern Ireland to examine the process of peace and reconciliation.

Deanna Cooke, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor / Director of Engaged Learning

University Hall 4600
310.338.2917
deanna.cooke@lmu.edu

Deanna Cooke is the Director of BCLA Engaged Learning at Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Cooke is a Community Psychologist who has focused her 15-plus career on conducting and supporting community-based collaborative research. Prior to her role at LMU, Dr. Cooke served for three years at the civil rights and social policy organization, Advancement Project, as Senior Manager and Director of Organizational Learning and Development. Dr. Cooke also spent more than eight years directing community-based research programs for Georgetown University's Center for Social Justice. Throughout her career she has worked collaboratively with a diversity of groups, from community based organizations to school districts, and has conducted both city and school district wide assessments of literacy and schools, as well as program evaluations of youth social development programs, novel teaching pedagogies, public policy change efforts, and public health issues, such as childhood obesity. Further, Dr. Cooke values connecting her faith and her professional work in community change. She helped found Restorations, a faith-based mental health program and the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Educational Development Corporation.

In addition to her community-based endeavors, Dr. Cooke researches, teaches and has published on African American racial identity and socialization. Additionally she has designed and led study abroad and educational tours to South Africa, Costa Rica and Panama and is currently designing courses to take place in Cuba and Ghana.

She is a native of Compton, CA, an avid traveler and lover of music and the arts.